Masterplan for Macduff Aldi site set to go before committee
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Members of the Banff and Buchan area committee will be asked on Tuesday to agree a new masterplan for a site at the edge of Macduff where a new Aldi store would be located.
The masterplan comes following the quashing of an application by the retailer at the High Court in Edinburgh for a store which was petitioned for by rival retailer Tesco, much to the anger of the local community.
Aldi’s original planning application for a new supermarket on the site was approved by Aberdeenshire Council in August 2022, however this decision was legally challenged in January 2023 via a Judicial Review from Tesco.
In April Aldi reinforced its commitment to bring a supermarket to Macduff with the unveiling of a new draft masterplan for its site in the town.
The event was held at the Buchan Street Hall which was a chance for members of the community to see the proposals and have their say.
The masterplan for the Duff Street site incorporates a housing development of 22 homes and the potential for a new healthcare facility, alongside a retail unit.
Councillors have been asked by the planning service to agree to the masterplan which must be agreed in advance of the determination of any future planning application.
This would ensure that Aberdeenshire Council’s aspirations for the site set out in its Local Development Plan are fully met.
An Aldi spokesman said: "We are very pleased with the response we have had from the local community. They've been overwhelming in their support.
"We are grateful for that and we want to continue to work hard to bring forward the store because we know how much it's wanted locally and we will continue to do everything we can to make sure that happens.
"The Judicial Review has not put us off.
"We are here and we're very keen to bring a store to the area.
"If the masterplan is approved we'll then follow-up with a further detailed application for our store and hopefully that will be determined in due course.
"We know from speaking to people that they are travelling far and wide for their shopping and we can give them an opportunity to not have to do that and be able to shop more locally.
"A store would deliver for the people of Macduff and Banff and serve the wider area as well."
